Are you up to par when it comes to understanding furniture shopping? Given the wide range of price points, styles and manufacturers, how do you know where to turn? Many people buy something without having much knowledge about it. In order to avoid becoming one of those individuals, you should definitely keep reading.

If you are seeking out old furniture, ensure you examine its underside so that you ensure stability. Something can look good, but still have hidden problems. A lot of old pieces of furniture have rust or dry rot on them.

When you search for new furniture, consider your color options carefully. Bold colors can sometimes find you having issues with matching decor later on. Make sure that your larger furniture items are neutral colors. You can use smaller, less expensive pieces to add color or personality.

If you’re living somewhere with a yard and need outside furniture, near the end of summer time is the best time to buy. When a season ends, trends change and stock needs to be moved out. During this time, the prices will drop so that the items will get sold.

Haggling is key to buying used or new furniture. If you’re willing to haggle, it’s often possible to receive a discount of up to 20 percent. This is because many retailers mark up prices significantly. If you can’t haggle, bring along someone who can.

Measuring the space in which you plan to place the furniture is a must. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a side table or a bed, you need to know the size of the area you have to work with. Guessing almost never works out well. It’s very important to measure when you want pieces that expand, like sleeper sofas and recliners.

Inquire about the spring system when purchasing a sofa. If the sales associate assisting you isn’t able to tell you more about the system, ask to talk with another employee. Press down on the couch to feel the springs, and ensure they go front to back across the piece.

Think about the people who use your furniture most frequently. If you have small children, you need to get sturdy pieces that will last. Pets have a habit of shedding, so if you have a white cat you might want to avoid a black fabric couch. If your pet sheds you will want to get a fabric that attracts less fur.

Spend a little more on better quality. Budget is always important, but so is quality. There may be cheaply priced furniture available, but in this case, the quality is usually not very good. Spending a little more will get you better quality furniture made by manufacturers that focus on making furniture that will last years.

You should feel pretty good about learning all that you have about buying furniture. The tips included here were intended to help you save both money and time. Keep these tips in mind so that your investment in furniture will be worth it.